adminSandro Tonali has admitted that his wife already knows London far better than he does after completing his high-profile move from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Italian midfielder joined Spurs in July for a reported £100 million, bringing an end to his time at St James’ Park. Despite failing to score a Premier League goal last season, Tottenham were willing to make Tonali their record signing as part of a major rebuild in North London.
The transfer surprised many observers, particularly given Tottenham’s back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the Premier League. Arsenal and Manchester City had also reportedly shown interest in Tonali before Spurs eventually won the race for his signature.
Tottenham’s ambitious recruitment drive has reportedly cost around £340 million, with Tonali becoming one of the key additions to their revamped squad. The midfielder is also believed to be earning approximately £275,000 per week.
Tonali had previously made it clear that he was attracted by the prospect of living in London, but his decision to leave Newcastle did not go down well with supporters on Tyneside.
The Italian was subjected to a hostile reception from Newcastle fans during Tottenham’s visit to North London. Supporters in the away end made their feelings known throughout the encounter, although Newcastle ultimately had the final say by securing a 2-0 victory.
Tonali Opens Up About Adjusting to London
Speaking to SoccerBible, Tonali discussed his first impressions of life in the English capital and admitted that London feels completely different from his previous surroundings in Newcastle.
The 26-year-old also revealed that his wife, Juliette, has helped make the transition considerably easier because she was already familiar with the city.
“It’s a busy city. It’s a new city. It’s very different to where I was before,” Tonali explained.
“But I found the people lovely here so far. I’m lucky as well that my wife already knew London better than me.
“As long as I have her and my family – everything is good.”
Tonali appears to have quickly embraced his new surroundings, with his family providing an important source of comfort as he adapts to life away from Newcastle.
Tonali: Young Players Must Never Stop Dreaming
The Tottenham midfielder also offered advice to aspiring footballers, encouraging young players to continue chasing their ambitions regardless of how difficult the journey becomes.
Tonali reflected on his own career and explained that playing in Serie A and eventually moving to the Premier League were dreams he had always wanted to achieve.
“It’s important to never stop dreaming. And dream big,” he said.
“I always imagined playing in the Serie A, Premier League, the best league in the world. I think you never really stop dreaming until the end of your career.
“So yes, my advice for any young player is to never stop.”
Tonali also spoke about the demands of being a modern professional footballer, admitting that the job requires players to completely dedicate themselves to the sport.
“It’s tough because you have to live and breathe football every day and every week,” he added.
The Italian admitted that he enjoys the media side of the game and has developed an appreciation for football fan culture, having experienced the passion of supporters in both Italy and England.
“I like the media side and the fan culture. Playing in Italy and now in England, the fans are such a big part of the game.
“I’m getting more interested in the fashion side now… but not as much as some of the other guys!”
With Tonali now beginning a new chapter at Tottenham, the midfielder will be hoping his performances on the pitch can eventually justify the huge investment Spurs made to bring him to North London.
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